KING’S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 11

KING’S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE

SPORTING BODIES' QUANDARY JUNE 3 OR JUNE 23? For tho past 26 years June 3, the date of the late King George’s Birthday, was one of the gala days of tho Empire holiday calendar. King Edward’s people will now observe the holiday on June 23. This new date will make it necessary for a rearrangement of many official and sporting fixtures that have already been set down for June 3, which falls on a Wednesday. June 23 is a Tuesday. Important racing fixtures, such as the Dunedin Jockey Club’s AVinter Meeting and races at Auckland and Otaki, are scheduled to take place on Juno 3, while in Dunedin an event of annual importance, the AVinter Show, hiis already been arranged to coincide with that date.

Mr L. G. Hill (secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club) said this morning that until the committee met no announcement would be made, though it was possible that a decision would be reached to work the meeting in with the Winter Show. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society has yet to discuss its move in the question that has arisen, but it is expected that the dates will be fixed in the near future.

In every city and town in the Dominion sports meetings. of all descriptions are held, and it is likely that the coming of June 3 will be regarded by very many as the King’s Birthday until the last moment. This day is a bank holiday, and this year’s calendar has it marked as an Empire one. Suggestions have been freely made that both June 3 and June 23 be observed as national holidays by the authorities, in view of the magnificent service King George gave his people. It would, it is held, be a commemoration day, and if that step were taken, as ■ many people consider it should, there would be two Royal birthday holidays in the year. Whether only one or both are to be observed, however, it is extremely unlikely that sporting fixtures will be held on June 3. In any case, an early lead by the authorities would be appreciated, as arrangements for the big budget of events have to be made months ahead.